As the number of areas one has to manage increase, the need for perspective also increases. The degree to which we can handle multiple important and urgent tasks successfully will have a big effect on our success and the speed of our progression. Handling multiple responsibilities requires discipline, the ability to differentiate, and most importantly the ability to take perspective; the ability to take a step back and zoom in and zoom out regularly. If one takes a deeper and broader perspective in life at large, it is far easier to practice this discipline and manage multiple areas; this is because outside is in, and inside is out; what we do at work has a baring on how we are outside work, and what we do outside of work, has a baring on how we are at work; it is inevitable. So what does taking perspective mean?
As you come off the Tsuen Wan MTR train at Admiralty station, there is a distance of about 20 to 30 meters to the train connecting Hong Kong Island Line train. As the train arrives, this distance separates the commuters from their connecting train. Sometimes, just when the doors open, the opposite trains’ doors are closing and it leaves, without taking the connecting commuters; they were late. More often than not however, there is a small window for commuters to transfer and get on. Knowing of this regular small window, passengers alight in a great rush, sometimes almost like a panic, banging into each other, sometimes even dropping their shopping on the way, and run the 20 to 30 meter distance in order to get onto the soon departing train. Now, before the train arrives, the platform is usually quiet and stable with only the sound of the large TV speakers being heard. As soon as the train arrives, there is mayhem for a few minutes. As soon as the connecting train leaves, it is quiet again. This is on-going for hours. On the Tsuen Wan line, I have never in 5 months waited more than 3 minutes for a train. Yet people, often elderly people are running, pushing others, to get onto the train just incase they need to wait for 3 minutes. There is always a small percentile of people however who wait for everyone to leave, and then walk in peace, and often times still make the train. Perhaps it is understandable if there is a tight meeting, or one is running late, but I wonder how many of the hundreds of people alighting each time, are in such a hurry every time; the importance, and scarcity of perspective.
Sometimes we have so much on our minds that we cannot zoom out in order to select our next task or action. This has many implications, which have varying degrees of severity in the way they damage our route to success. In the best case, a clouded mind will lead to inability to act swiftly. It may lead to a lack of conviction as in our minds we’re still evaluating so many other alternatives, but the time to act has come. And in the worst case, it may lead to us choosing the wrong action. If our mind is clouded, we will find it more difficult to focus. When we lack focus, it may degrade our ability to evaluate situations and activities objectively. When we cannot evaluate objectively, we may choose unwisely. How do we facilitate the process of zooming out and getting perspective? Through remembrance. If we recall a very serious incident in our lives, the fact we often need to make an effort to recall it means that, whilst it may be very significant, its prominence fades over time. Time takes away all things no matter how great they may be, and remembrance of this can help us put things into perspective. As a catalyst to this process of gaining perspective, other people can help. Asking experienced people at work or elsewhere can add great value. Certainly this has been the way of Vedic thought. When King Yuddhistira was banished from the kingdom of Hastinapur unrighteously, often times he and his brothers would speak with great wise sages like Agastya Muni; to get perspective. When the younger brother of Lord Rama, Bharata was in a moral dilemma about what his duty was when his Father passed away and Lord Rama could not be crowned King due to being banished to the forest, he sought the advice of Guru Vasishta Muni; to gain perspective. When Vyasa Muni’s mind was perturbed after completing his authoring of the Mahabharata, he sought the counsel of Guru Narada Muni; to gain perspective. Training our minds and getting the help of our seniors, we can gain perspective.
Keshava Bharati Goswami said “You may have the greatest Guru in the Universe, but you have to do it yourself.” This is very relevant for us in the workplace and in life also; whilst guidance and the help and advice of so many very experienced and high caliber people may be there, and may be a huge help in our endeavours, ultimately our ability to handle multiple responsibilities well comes down to our own clarity of thought, decisiveness, and regularly taking perspective. Perspective, by its very nature can lead to great level of strategic position and taking advantage of big opportunities, and this is important. The greatest people however, don’t just apply it in the workplace; they apply it in life. This is why you will find the greatest leaders like the Warren Buffet’s, the Bill Gate’s of this world, whilst unparalleled in their success, do things that embody a broader, and deeper meaning. Whilst perspective is a journey and an on-going challenge, like all great things, it all begins with our thoughts.
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